It seems like Slick easily get along with 'Nique whenever he's at least somewhat accepting of her. I mean, it's easy to forget that now, but there was a time when they were really friendly whenever Slick wasn't being hostile/stupid. Which, admittedly, was rare. But whenever he behaves somewhat "normally," he gets along with her very well. Almost, like, I dunno, a sibling.

I foresee three possibilities.

1. They never get together and the comic veers off even deeper into Cerebus Syndrome.

2. They get together and the comic ends.

3. They get together and the comic doesn't end, but it jumps the shark.

Best case scenario is 3, but without shark-jumping. That would be an enormous challenge, but I think it's one that Tat is up to.

They seem more and more incompatible and Slick is barely getting any character development. And without development, he'll never be in any way compatible with 'Nique again.
I don't think they'll ever get together, which is sad, because they should have done that years ago.

I do miss mid-comic-Slick, who had feelings and felt love. He changed personalities, abruptly, symbolically, unequivocally. He put his tie back on and locked his heart away. I suspect it's a turning point as much as 'Nique cutting her hair, Fuchsia quitting, Jethro/Lil'E/Lily falling into the Lethe, and Seymour getting shot by Cupid. It feels like around a year or two ago, Mr. Ishida suddenly started over with a new cast. I do miss many of the old versions of the characters.

And I think the decline I mean shift can be attributed to Tat not drawing his comics by hand anymore. Before, there was more of a sense that ideology and large group politics were empty things. It wouldn't surprise me if drawing things with a computer has left him feeling less and less connected to his characters over time.

Hmmm, it's a little callous to dismiss it as a "crush," since she seemed to be the only person/place/thing in the world that inspired any real emotion in him (notice how Squig ships Nique and Abby but not Slick, even though he should be the first to do so), but I agree that he'll probably move on.

And I think the decline I mean shift can be attributed to Tat not drawing his comics by hand anymore. Before, there was more of a sense that ideology and large group politics were empty things. It wouldn't surprise me if drawing things with a computer has left him feeling less and less connected to his characters over time.

Are you seriously insinuating that using a computer to draw makes you feel less connected to your characters? Are you really that ridiculous? What a stupid question, of course you are. But to play your pretentious game, where are the studies that show that using a computer to create art makes one less attached to that art, specifically characters and story, than if one were to create it with analog materials? If you do not in fact have studies to back you up, then what is your hypothesis and reasoning? Are you yourself an artist and/or creator of stories? Even if you are, that is a sample size of one. I am a creator/artist who would strongly disagree with your hypothesis, and I'm sure there are others who would also refute your assertation.

Also, you moron, he still draws them "by hand". By the looks of the comics about Sinfest!Tat he has a Cintiq, where the only difference is that you're drawing on a screen instead of paper. In addition, using a computer means that he can do more advanced effects easier than before, i.e. why the Sunday comics look amazing (other than his own personal improvement).